Stirling Wolves hosted Watsonians on Friday evening, for their seventh match of the 2022 FOSROC Super6 Championship.
Watsonians started the game the stronger side, with Seb Cecil getting the first try of the match in the 13th minute. Lee Millar’s kick was wide of the posts. [0-5]
The second try from Watsonians was quick to follow, with Lewis Berg scoring in the 18th minute, following some extended pressure from the visitors. Millar converted successfully. [0-12]
Stirling fought back and began to work their way back into the game, securing their first try of the night in the 26th minute. Walter Fifita powered through the opposition’s defence to score after a Wolves line-out maul broke down, with captain Marcus Holden converting. [7-12]
Both sides had their chances prior to the break, with the hosts spending the closing moments of the first half threatening the Watsonian line, before almost being caught out themselves on the counter.
HT: Stirling Wolves 7-12 Watsonians
Stirling brought on Liam Brims in place of Alex Thom for the start of the second half.
Wolves were quick out the blocks after the restart and their pressure soon paid off. The hosts won the ball from a Watsonians line-out, with Gregor Hiddleston pushing his way over the line to score in the 46th minute. Holden made the conversion to give Wolves the lead. [14-12]
Watsonians soon took back the lead with Connor Boyle driving over from a line-out maul in the 53rd minute, converted again by Millar. [14-19]
The 59th minute saw Wolves replace James Pow and Gregor Christie with Hamish Ferguson and Finlay Burgess. Cameron MacMillan also replaced Adam Wood in the 63rd minute.
Watsonians extended their lead in the 68th minute after a lengthy period of pressure saw the Wolves defence hold strong, before finally being beaten with Angus Guthrie making it through. Millar’s kick struck the upright on its way over the bar. [14-26]
Benedict Grant was replaced by George Arnott in the 70th minute.
Watsonians added to their score with a try from Kwagga Van Niekerk in the 72nd minute, with Millar getting his fourth conversion. [14-33]
The final substitutions for Wolves occurred in the 75th minute, with Rhodri Tanner, Callum Norrie and Euan Cunningham all coming on to replace George Breese, Angus Fraser and Logan Jarvie.
Stirling pulled one back in the 79th minute when some excellent work from Fifita saw him shrug off two tackles before releasing Ryan Southern down the left side. He then pulled it back to Burgess who finished the move before quickly taking the conversion. [21-33]
FT: Stirling Wolves 21-33 Watsonians
HEAD COACH
Ben Cairns was asked his thoughts on the match:
“We did a lot of good stuff tonight for sure. From where we have been to that is a big difference, isn’t it? In terms of performance that is night and day to where we have been.
We struggled at the start of the game because we had three opportunities to execute a set-piece attack inside their half but we gave them the ball back within three phases. The first time we execute we got a penalty, kicked to touch, scored a try. That was the template for what we can do.”
Match report by Andrew MacInnes
TEAMS
Stirling Wolves: 15. Craig Robertson, 14. Logan Jarvie, 13. Ryan Southern, 12. Alex Thom 11. Walter Fifita, 10. Marcus Holden (C), 9. Gregor Christie; 1. Adam Wood, 2. Angus Fraser, 3. George Breese, 4. James Pow, 5. Max Williamson, 6. Jack Hill, 7. Gregor Hiddleston, 8. Benedict Grant.
Replacements: 16. Rhodri Tanner, 17. Cameron MacMillan, 18. Callum Norrie, 19. Hamish Ferguson, 20. George Arnott, 21. Finlay Burgess, 22. Liam Brims, 23. Euan Cunningham.
Watsonians: 15. Dom Coetzer, 14. Lomond MacPherson, 13. Lewis Berg, 12. Connor Eastgate, 11. Angus Guthrie, 10. Lee Millar (C), 9. Rory Brand; 1. Cole Lamberton, 2. Cal Davies (VC), 3. Angus Williams, 4. Kwagga Van Niekerk, 5. Jamie Berrisford, 6. Seb Cecil, 7. Connor Boyle, 8. Ben Muncaster.
Replacements: 16. Campbell Wilson, 17. Bobby Bratton, 18. Gregor Scougall, 19. Kieran Watt, 20. Karl Main, 21. Roan Frostwick, 22. Joe Reynolds, 23. Ryan Daley.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Ian Kenny
AR1: David Sutherland
AR2: David Changleng
SCORERS
Stirling Wolves: TRY: Fifita, Hiddleston, Burgess; CON: Holden 2, Burgess.
Watsonians: TRY: Cecil, Berg, Boyle, Guthrie, Van Niekerk; CON: Millar 4.
FOSROC Player of the Match
Kwagga Van Niekerk (Watsonians)
